erythema nodosum - it is a common inflammatory disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which is characterized by the development of painful red nodules symmetrically on both legs.The disease was first described in 1798 by the English dermatologist Robert Villani.He also noticed that most of the illness affects people aged 20-30 years, predominantly women.

Causes of erythema nodosum Erythema nodosum

- not just predominantly female disease, it often occurs during pregnancy or while taking hormonal contraceptives.Typically, this pathological process is indicative of other diseases.The causes of erythema nodosum act tuberculosis, streptococcal infections, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, tumors.This disease may also occur as an isolated condition.

Other causes of erythema nodosum i

nclude sulfa drugs intake, estrogen and other drugs.

The development of the disease plays an important role state of the lower limbs.Risk factors are varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.It is worth remembering that in women these states again develop during pregnancy.

cause of erythema nodosum is most often an inflammatory disease when elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is detected in a blood test.In rare cases, identify the underlying disease is impossible.Then erythema nodosum is considered a separate disease.

Symptoms The main symptom of erythema nodosum - is the emergence of dense nodes in the lower tissues of the dermis or subcutaneous tissue.Their size ranges from 1 to 5 cm, and the knot slightly rises above the skin, but fuzzy outlines, as the tissue around the erythema is usually swollen, the skin of the seal is smooth and red.

After 3-5 days the symptoms of erythema nodosum changes - nodes allowed to become more dense, but do not break.The skin over the bundles changes color from brown to blue and gradually turns yellow, like hematoma.

Nodules appear on the front of the leg symmetrically on both legs.Unilateral or single lesions are uncommon, but possible.The main places where the nodules can appear - the calves, thighs, buttocks, in rare cases, a person or even episclera eyeball.Nodules are growing rapidly, however, reaching a certain limit, they cease to grow.The patient does not feel itching at the site erythema, but feels the pain, which may occur as a node at a palpation and spontaneous.

Onset is usually acute.The patient has symptoms of erythema nodosum as fever, chills, weakness and lack of appetite.Perhaps the appearance of symptoms of the joints - pain, morning stiffness, pain on palpation.At least one-third of patients have inflammation of the joints, and also symmetrically defeat.Swell the small joints of the hands and feet.Symptoms of arthritis can even get ahead of the symptoms of erythema nodosum.

After two or three weeks after the onset of the disease are nodes.The symptoms of erythema nodosum are on the wane, disappear as skin and joint manifestations.But in rare cases, the disease may take a chronic relapsing turnover.Repeated outbreaks knots are dense single, their color - bluish-pink.Chronic erythema may last for months, accompanied by chronic arthropathy vessels without deformation.

Types erythema

treatment of erythema nodosum erythema needs differentiated by type.There are several types of inflammatory formations.

- Toxic erythema.Observed in newborns and is considered to be the physiological norm.As a rule, there are no other changes, but perhaps nodules disappear on their own within a week.

- Infectious erythema.Develops on the background of infectious diseases of different etiologies in children and adults.

- exudative erythema multiforme.Developed for colds accompanied by headache and general malaise, weakness, pain in the joints and throat.Lesions occur mainly in hands and feet, hands, legs, genitals and the mouth.

- erythema migrans.The symptom of Lyme disease, which is indicative of a tick bite.At the site of the bite appears annular erythema, which increases in size and turns white in the center.

- Annular erythema.The chronic form of the disease that develops against the backdrop of the body poisoning, allergic reactions and infections.Stains on the nodes are rounded and merge into the ring.

treatment of erythema nodosum

The first thing the doctor must do - is make a differential diagnosis in order to identify concomitant disease or lack thereof.Further treatment of erythema nodosum includes a set of measures for the treatment of the underlying disease and the measures to combat the inflammation of the subcutaneous fat.

To eliminate the main symptoms of erythema nodosum and salicylates are used antihistamines.It can be Diazolin, Suprastin, Zyrtec, Tavegil, Telfast or Claritin.In severe cases, the treatment of erythema nodosum requires the use of antibiotics.But because these drugs can cause allergic reactions and have a lot of side effects on their designation decision is made by the attending physician.

Local treatment of erythema nodosum by using corticosteroids.However, they are used only in the absence of infectious diseases.

good effect is given physiotherapy - for the treatment of erythema nodosum often prescribed phonophoresis, warm compresses, ihtiolovye hot compress, UHF, diathermy.Patients are also encouraged to diet restriction spicy, fried and fatty foods, as well as allergens.

Erythema nodosum during pregnancy

If earlier it was believed that this pathology can cause serious fetal malformations and requires termination of pregnancy, but now related to the erythema nodosum was revised.

When erythema nodosum during pregnancy, the obstetrician-gynecologist is conducting a survey to identify the potential causes of diseases, the most serious of them are tuberculosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, Behcet's disease.However, most of these suspicions are not justified.

According to current data, erythema nodosum during pregnancy rather harms the health of the woman, what affects the fetus.The woman has an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.In some instances, erythema nodosum during pregnancy goes to the end of the second or third trimester and then doctors link this condition with the reaction of the body for pregnancy.

In the absence of pregnancy complications is assigned locally Indovazin chimes inside and in small doses of paracetamol.A major role in the elimination of erythema nodosum during pregnancy plays a regime of work and rest.It is recommended to reduce the load on the vessels to a minimum, that is, either to comply with bed rest or alternate walking with relaxation periods.Expectant mums are also advised to avoid stress, infectious diseases and climate change.

Attention!

This article is available exclusively in the educational purposes and is not research material or professional medical advice.